Description

From the Jacket

The Indian sub-continent particularly the peninsular India, is recognized as one of the richest areas of Acheulian occupation in the Old world. This research work is a detailed study of the Acheulian Culture system in India signifying the earliest cultural occupation here.

The book examines the cultural material of the Acheulian phases in its ecological setting to throw light on the distribution pattern, nature of habitats, quaternary deposits, mammalian and hominid remains, land use and subsistence, site formation process, genesis ad chronology of the Acheulian cultural system. Incorporating his own field observations over the last three decades and more as well as integrating and synthesizing the available data and evidence on Acheulian culture, Dr. R.S. Pappu presents a comprehensive understanding of the Acheulian system and in general behavioural patterns of early hunting and food gathering communities. He also provides an account of the progress of palaeolithic research in India since the first discovery of Palaeolithic settlement by Foote in 1863, tracing the major projects ad contributions of noted Indian geo-archaeologists.

About the Author

He is a scholar of international repute in geo-archaeology who has investigated pre and proto-historic sites in varied ecological settings in different regions of the country. Of significance is his prehistory and Quaternary study in the Kaladgi basin and excavation of Palaeolithic sites of Angadwadi, and Chirki-Nevasa, wadoli and Inamgaon. Among his publications, which include research papers in various national and international journals, are monographs on Pleistocene studies in the Upper Krishna Basin and Man-Land Relationship during Palaeolithic Times in the Kaladgi basin, Karnataka.

CONTENTS

Foreword

v

Acknowledgements

vii

List of Figures

xiii

1

INTRODUCTION

1

Acheulian in the Old World

1

Acheulian in India

2

Aims of the Project

3

Research Methodology

4

Brief History of Palaeolithic Research

6

2

ACHEULIAN CULTURE IN PENINSULAR India

13

Introduction

13

Excavated Sites

13

Other Important Sites

61

3

SALIENT FEATURES

69

Introduction

69

Distribution

69

Habitats

70

Tool Types

72

Technology

73

Nature of Assemblages

74

Functions of Tools

88

Raw Materials

89

Quaternary Deposits

90

Mammalian Fossils

104

Hominid Remains

109

Subsistence Pattern

110

Palaeoenvironment

111

Settlement Pattern

114

Site Formation Processes

115

Site Catchment Analysis

116

Genesis

116

Chronology

117

Comparison and Correlation

118

4

ACHEULIAN CULTURAL SYSTEM

121

Appendix I

Register of important Sites/Site Complex/Rivers Valleys/ Districts

129

Appendix II

Thorium-Uranium and Postassium-Argon Dates for Acheulian Sites in Peninsular India